Thirty-two thousand pounds. I was currently earning minimum wage at a convenience store, stacking shelves at 3 am. This was life-changing money.
"There's one more thing," Gary said. "If you take this role, you'd be leaving Moss Side. Leaving these players. Leaving this community. That's not a decision to take lightly. I can see what you've built here. It's special. But I can also see that you're ambitious. That you want to test yourself at a higher level. This is your chance."
He paused, letting that sink in.
"Crystal Palace isn't just offering you a job, Danny. We're offering you a pathway. Prove yourself with the U18s, and you could move up to U23s. Excel there, and you could become a first-team coach. We develop managers just like we develop players. But it starts here, with the U18s, with getting your badges, with learning the professional game properly."
